Mishap and mayhem in Independence NHP

Before I get too far into my story about INDE, I would like to note that I was very happy that I made the trip to the park.  It was a place that I had always wanted to visit, but had never got the chance until I tagged along with my parents on their vacation.

However, I was less than impressed with some features of the park.  I understand that security levels had to be massively increased after Sept. 11th attacks on the U.S., but in the process, they have totally ruined the ambience of the park!  I know that there is a bustling metropolitan area and skyscrapers around the park that weren't there 100 years ago, but you can kind of ignore that.  What you can't ignore are the miles of "security fence" (which are really bicycle racks used as fencing) all around the historic buildings, which really made me feel like I was a herd of cattle being corraled into a holding pen or something.  I was also irritated abou going through  numerous metal detectors as if I had picked up something outside and brought it in every single building over and over.  It just made me feel so violated and I think I even muttered a few times, "Welcome to America!"  All the security hoopla really took away from experiencing "historic America".  I mean, here you are in a park celebrating some of the early symbols and documents of our country's independence and all I could think was just how repressed and controlled we were again due to all the security!

Welcome to INDEPENDENCE NHP...but you didn't feel so free there!

Also, there were rent-a-cops about every 10 feet standing around.  Not that I mind security - they have a very important job too- however, they just be helpful if they are going to stand around and do absolutely NOTHING else.  Once you enter the security fencing area and go through the metal detectors, you can only move in one direction.  If you get out of line or decide to exit the fence for ANY reason, you are screwed.  You are forced to go back to the very beginning of the line (which gets really long really fast) and go through security again and basically you start your tour over again.  So word to the wise, don't plan on seeing a few things, leave and eat, and then come back.  It will take you twice as long and you risk not even being able to get a ticket to see anything anyway (they sell out very quickly very early in the morning).  Anyway...back to the cops.  Well, once we finished touring and seeing everything that we wanted to see in the complex, we were getting ready to leave and find something to eat.  There weren't ANY "Exit" signs or anything directing us on how to get out of the security fencing (well, at least any signs that I could easily see).  Therefore, I walked up to a cop and asked him how to exit.  First of all, he wasn't even inviting because he was chatting with another coworker about how he hated his job and hated all the tourists, etc.  Second of all, he was leaning on the historic building with his arms crossed over his chest.  And lastly, when I asked him how to exit, he casually gestures in a direction and then automatically starts resuming his conversation as if I was rude in the first place for interrupting his discussion about us "annoying tourists".  I still didn't see where I was going so I asked him again how to exit.  He says, "Ma'am, if you can read, you see that sign that states 'E-X-I-T'??  That means exit and that is where you leave."  I muttered some foul word under my breath and left.  I couldn't believe someone who took a PUBLIC job paid for by the TAXPAYERS would be so rude to the people that partially pay his salary.

Also, when we went to see the Liberty Bell...what chaos!  There was supposed to be a nice line where you could kind of take your own picture and then leave, but everyone crowded around the bell to take their "perfect" picture and you never got your own picture without someone you don't even know standing in it.  And to top things off, the park ranger that was supposed to be interepreting the history of the bell, was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and wasn't talking to one soul.  He also would move occasionally to LEAN HIS ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT ON THE BELL'S SUPPORT STRUCTURE!  As someone who works with the National Park Service, loves history and preservation, I almost had a HEART ATTACK that someone who works with this agency did not have common sense to NOT lean on an artifact, let alone something as significant as the Liberty Bell.